Tim Lincecum’s Mechanical Flaws That Most Pitchers Should Not Copy

by Dick Mills on January 15, 2010

What if Giants' RH pitcher Tim Lincecum, like many other major league pitches, could actually be more consistent with their pitching velocity and control while reducing the risk of injury by improving their pitching mechanics? By being more efficient with their movements.

Just because pitchers like Tim Lincecum pitch at a high level does not mean they could not improve by taking certain steps such as being more efficient with their mechanics, developing better control by throwing a higher volume of pitches in practice from the mound and thus would also reduce their risk of arm injuries. 

Noted sports scientist and biomechanist Dr. James Hay always said that amateur athletes should not copy champion or professional athletes because they would be copying their good points but also their bad points.

Pitching velocity is produced by moving the entire body as close as possible in a straight line or linear direction toward the target.  Mass times acceleration equals momentum or force.

This video demonstrates why counter-rotation and swinging the leg out and around into landing does not maximize momentum or force and thus cannot possibly lead to efficient velocity or improved velocity.

What if Tim Lincecum, who is only 5'10" 170 lbs.  moved his body in a more linear direction and sooner, did not swing his leg out and around and landed on the mid-line rather than  well across the mid-line by as much as 6-10".  

Two things would occur. He would be able to move faster by keeping his lead leg bent rather than extending and swinging it out and because he was moving in a more direct line to the target he would move faster.  This would be very bad for hitters because they would have even less time to react to an already explosive movement down the mound.  

Plus landing on the line would prevent the excess lean of his trunk which I believe reduces his control as well as his velocity.  

So do I like Tim Lincecum's mechanics? Parts of it.

What I especially like is his ability to move as fast as he can away from the rubber using a strong leg drive into a stride 120 % of his height. How many pitchers do you see who have the ability to stride that fast and that far?  None I know of. Do not try to copy that for many reasons.

I believe Tim Lincecum may be the most exciting pitcher to come along in decades because he is so small but is able to produce over-powering velocity with some outstanding pitches. 

This is what makes Tim Lincecum not only different but so effective.  Hitters are not used to seeing a major league pitcher who moves that fast and gets that close to the plate and brings his arm into play so late.  

So again...there are his three mechanical flaws that he is able to over-come but most pitchers will not be able to:

1. he counter-rotates his body showing his uniform number to the plate

2. he swings his lead leg out and around into landing

3. he lands to the 3rd base side of the mid-line at least 6 and possibly as much as 10 inches

None of those three things can contribute to velocity since all three produce slowing movements.

To produce more force in the direction of the target  there can be no irrelevant movements that reduce linear momentum.

Counter-rotation or rotating over the back leg is a rotational movement...not a linear one. There is no biomechanical principle that supports rotation in pitching prior to weight shift...for producing more force.

What is the shortest distance between two points? A straight line. Accelerating the body in a more direct line toward the target will produce more momentum and thus more force...and better control of the ball.

So what can you learn by watching Tim Lincecum and what should you try to emulate without copying him?

Tim Lincecum has explosive leg drive into a very long stride...at least 100% of the pitcher's height.  Few amateur pitchers today display that which would help them produce more energy and thus more arm speed.  Most pitchers would be advised to keep the stride not much over 100% of their height as it may prevent them from getting their head and shoulders positioned out over their lead knee at ball release.

Velocity has proven to have little to do with arm strength or more body strength but everything to do with using explosive and powerful lower body mechanics. Just make sure those lower body mechanics are efficient and do not actually produce a slowing action.

Tim also gets his throwing arm involved much later than most pitchers which means the force he produces going into landing are transferred later to the ball...thus more force gets to the ball. Getting the arm involved early by breaking the hands early kills velocity potential.

So pitchers today would be well advised to move faster into a long stride while getting the arm involved much later in the delivery.

Remember..."pitchers are made in the off-season."   What are you doing right now to improve your pitching skills?

These are some of the important aspects I have been focusing on in our Explosively Pitching DVD program since 2004.  We teach parents how to help their sons use their bodies to pitch instead of just their arms. Not only does this improve velocity but reduces the risk of arm injuries.  We teach them proper conditioning.

See our Off-season discounts on our instructional DVD's:  http://www.pitching.com/products/

"I had spent several hundred dollars on a pitching coach who was leading my son down the path to ruin. He embraced every failed philosophy and technique you've identified - long toss, towel drills and more drills ad nauseum. My son's skills were deteriorating. When I found your website and read your report, I sense intuitively your words had merit and deserved further study."                                Mark Smith, Downers Grove,IL